Categorizing fasteners and construction connectors using visual identifiers

ABSTRACT

A method of categorizing fasteners and construction connectors by size and type using a color coding system. Each fastener receives a designated and distinct color contained on the surface that is exposed before and after installation. The colors are preselected to define one or more physical properties of the fasteners. A color key is provided to determine the physical properties of the fasteners based on the coloring of exposed portions of the inserted fasteners. Similarly, construction connectors receive a designated and distinct color contained on the surface that is exposed before and after installation. The color represented on the surface of the construction connector is such that the corresponding fastener is the same color.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) tothe provisional application entitled CATEGORIZING FASTENERS ANDCONSTRUCTION CONNECTORS USING VISUAL IDENTIFIERS which was filed on Jul.3, 1997 and assigned application Ser. No. 60/051652.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a color coding system to identify thephysical properties of fasteners and connectors both before and aftertheir application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modem building codes strictly control the types of materials and methodswhich may be used in building construction. These codes are primarilyenacted to ensure that the resulting structures are safe. Failure tocomply with the codes often results in the structure not being approvedfor habitation, and could expose the builder or developer to liabilityto the buyer. Furthermore, noncompliance results in delays inconstruction, and increased production costs, due to the time andexpense of correcting the mistakes.

In the past few years, the construction industry has gone through majorchanges. Structures have become more complex, construction schedules aretighter, the labor force generally has no formal training, and there areoften language barriers which make it difficult for the labor force tofully understand instructions. Consequently, it has become increasinglydifficult to build structures in full compliance with the governingbuilding codes.

The task of ultimately determining whether a structure has been built tocode is generally assigned to building inspectors, structural engineersand superintendents. These individuals review a construction site forcompliance with architectural blue prints and Uniform Building Codes.The purpose of this inspection is to ensure the safety of the structureby checking that the proper materials/fasteners/construction connectorshave been used and in the correct manner.

During the planning of a construction project, the architect willspecify certain fasteners and construction connectors based upon theirappropriateness to achieve the function they are to perform, and theapplicable building codes which govern that type of use. Furthermore,different materials require that different fasteners be applied atspecific spacings based on calculations made by the engineers andarchitect. After these fasteners have been incorporated into thestructure by the builder, it is next to impossible for the inspector toknow the precise characteristics of the fastener. This is because theportions of the fastener which remain exposed, such as the head of anail, do not indicate the physical properties of the fastener which maybe required by the codes or architect, such as its diameter (or gauge),length, weight, etc. Short of having the fastener removed forinspection, there is often no way to determine this. This problem alsoexists when verifying that the proper fastener has been used incombination with the proper construction connector, such as platestraps. Consequently, building inspections are more time consuming andcostly. There is also increased risk of error, and thus correspondingrisk to safety, as the inspector may inadvertently overlook improperfastener or connector uses.

Prior attempts to solve this problem have been unsuccessful. Forexample, one such attempt is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,917 issuedto Charles F. Dickson, the entirety of which is incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein. The Dickson patent describes acomplex system in which numbers and clock like markings are inscribedinto nail heads. The markings represent a pattern from which the lengthand/or gauge of the nail can be identified. However, because the size ofthe markings is limited by the size of the nail head, for very smallnails, the markings cannot be distinguished unless one is within a closeproximity (12″ maximum) to the nail due to the small size of theinscription. This limits the usefulness of such a marking system,because it would be difficult for building inspectors to determineaccurate fastener use from a distance. Further, the Dickson patentstates that the nail must be inserted in a specific orientation for themarkings to be usable, or that an even more complex marking systemproviding orientation must be used. Clearly, such complex indicators donot provide the simplification needed by industry and inspectors.Furthermore, the markings taught by Dickson would be distorted by theimpact of the driving tool/system, likely making the markings illegible.This system for inscribing distinguishing marks on the nail heads hasnot been widely adopted, if at all.

Consequently, there exists a need for fasteners and connectors withreadily identifiable indicators to determine their physical propertiesafter they have been inserted. Furthermore, there exists a need for anefficient and easy method of determining the physical properties offasteners after the fasteners have been used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a color coding system, which may be usedin conjunction with a lettering or symbol system, for identifyingconstruction fasteners and any corresponding construction connector bysize and type, both before and after application. Advantageously, thesystem of the present invention provides for more efficientidentification, both in terms of increasing the accuracy of determiningif the correct fastener or connector has been used, and in decreasingthe time required to make such determinations.

The present invention can be used to color code all possible types offasteners and any corresponding construction connectors to designatetheir physical properties. These properties include, length, shaftlength, leg length, shaft diameter (or gauge), width, crown width,thickness, weight, threads, threads per unit of measure, tipconfiguration, anchoring capabilities, composition, materials, substancetreatment, variations in surface, or any other physical property of afastener which can be determined.

In the present invention, a different color is pre-selected to define afastener property and is assigned to each of the most common (but notlimited to) fasteners. After application of the color to the fastener,the color can be used to distinguish the physical and othercharacteristics of fasteners and thereby their intended use. The colorsare chosen to best contrast with the background materials most common tothe fasteners. The colors are also applied so that they may bedetermined from a distance after the fastener has been installed. Thecolors which may be used include those from the visible light spectrum,neon colors, fluorescent colors, and marking materials that fade overtime if there is an instance when the color would distract from thefinished structure. Moreover, two or more colors may be used on onefastener to connote different types of information such as one coloridentifying the composition of the fastener and another color itslength, or other variations of the physical properties of the fastener.Letter designations corresponding to the fastener composition may alsobe added on top of color coding for further identification (e.g., Grepresenting galvanized, R representing ring shank, V representingvinyl, and so on). Other types of symbols may also be used besideslettering to categorize the fasteners and connectors.

A color code key, preferably in card or chart form, may then be providedwhich categorizes the physical properties of the fasteners by color.Architects and building planners may incorporate these colors directlyinto their blueprints or building specifications. If the constructionsite is provided with fasteners and connectors incorporating thepre-selected color scheme, workers using the fasteners and connectors ofthe present invention are more likely to select the correct fastener orconnector for an intended application because they will be able toconfirm the choice by comparing the color to that on the blueprints.Furthermore, a building inspector will be able to more quickly andaccurately determine if correct fasteners and connectors have been usedwhen the present invention is incorporated into a construction site, bysimple color observation.

Another benefit of the present invention is that the color coding systemis also applicable to construction connectors that are used inconjunction with fasteners. Color coding the construction connector andthe fasteners will make it readily apparent if the proper combinationhas been used. This is done by matching the proper fastener to theproper construction connector by marking a piece of the connector (e.g.,hardware or strap) with an identifying color corresponding to thecorrect fastener. Further, when both the fastener and correspondingconnector have been color coded in this manner, an inspector can standat a distance and assess if the correct fastener (nail for example) wasused with the connector because of the color(s) distinction. This willmake the use and inspection of such construction connector/fastenerapplications visually identifiable.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastenercomprising a shaft having a first end and a second end. An exposedportion is attached to the first end of the shaft, and an identifyingcolor is on the exposed portion. The identifying color is pre-selectedto correspond to at least one physical property of the fastener and iscapable of being recognized by a person of normal vision from a distanceof at least 10 feet, and more preferably from a distance of at least 18feet, when the shaft has been fully inserted into a surface. In oneembodiment, there is a second identifier on the exposed portion, thesecond identifier corresponding to at least a second specified physicalproperty of the fastener. The second identifier may be a second color inaddition to the first, such as red stripe or marking on a bluebackground, and/or the second identifier may be a letter or symbol.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof identifying physical properties of inserted fasteners from adistance. The method comprises applying a colored coating over thesurface of an exposed portion of the fastener prior to using thefastener. The colored coating has been pre-selected to correspond to atleast one physical property of the fastener. Then, the fastener isinserted so that the coloring on the exposed portion remains visible andmay be determined by a person of normal vision from a distance.Preferably, the color of the exposed portion may be determined from adistance of at least 15 feet, and more preferably from a distance of atleast 18 feet.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof identifying fastener physical properties during building inspection.The method comprises selecting a plurality of colors to apply to anexposed surface of a fastener. Each color of the plurality specificallyconnotes one or more properties of the fastener. One of the plurality ofcolors is applied to the exposed surface of the fastener having theproperties that the color connotes, so that the color may be recognizedby a person of normal vision from a distance of at least 18 feet. Then,the fastener is inserted into an object. A building inspector providedwith a color key indicating the physical properties that each selectedcolor connotes, will be able to readily determine the physicalproperties of the inserted fasteners, such as their length, gauge, orcomposition.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided aconstruction joint comprising a first surface and a second surface. Thefirst and second surfaces are subject to a regulation which requiresspecified physical properties for fasteners used to join the first andsecond surfaces. A fastener is used to secure the first surface to thesecond surface. The fastener has a colored portion which is exposed toview. The color of the colored portion has been pre-selected to defineone or more physical properties of the fastener which correlate to thoseset forth in the regulation. The joint may be formed from two woodsurfaces, two metal surface, two plastic surfaces, or any combination ofthese and other common construction materials.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof making a fastener with physical properties which are identifiablefrom a distance. The method comprises pre-selecting a plurality ofcolors where each color corresponds to at least one specified physicalproperty of a fastener. Then a fastener having a known physical propertyis provided. A specified color of the plurality is then applied to thefastener so that the specified color may be determined from a distance,with the specified color having been pre-selected to define the knownphysical property of the fastener.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fastenerand connector system. The system comprises a connector which is requiredby regulation to be used with fasteners having specified properties. Afirst colored coating is on the connector, the first coating colorhaving been pre-selected to indicate the fasteners which regulationpermits may be used with the connector. The system also includes afastener having the specified properties. A second colored coating is onthe fastener, the second coating color having been pre-selected todefine the specified physical properties of the fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part ofthe specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1A shows a chart indicating sizes of common wire nails.

FIG. 1B shows a chart indicating sizes of common wire nails which havebeen color coded according to the present invention.

FIG. 1C shows a chart indicating sizes of common wire nails with colorcoding in conjunction with alphabetic letter.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of staple samples and a staple with color codingof the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a typical shear panel diagram featuring color codedfasteners of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of interior point slab with color coded anchorbolt.

FIG. 5A shows a diagram of a construction connector (beam hanger) withcolor coding.

FIG. 5B shows a diagram of a construction connector (tie plates) withcolor coding.

FIG. 5C shows a diagram of a construction connector (metal strap) withcolor coding.

FIG. 5D shows a diagram of a construction connector (header hanger) withcolor coding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The focus of the entire construction industry is quality control. Thearchitectural blueprints define the materials that must be used in thestructure, and the appropriate materials/fasteners/connectors to use tocomply with building codes. Consequently, everything must be built asthe blueprints specify. When this is done, the resulting structure willbe safer, and the builder will not incur additional expenses to bringthe structure to code, or as a result of liability claims. As describedherein, the present invention will benefit the construction industrywith respect to fastener incorporation, by reducing human error,increasing accuracy, saving time, increasing consistency, andsimplifying application. Further, the benefit to the builder, installer,inspector, and finally the consumer is a more efficient method ofadhering to the engineers/architects specifications and the UniformBuilding Codes. This will result in the building of safer structures, tothe benefit of all.

Builders are under increased pressure to build structures in fullcompliance with applicable building codes. For example, buildingdepartments now commonly require that the structural engineer whocreated the blueprints submit a signed letter stating that he hasinspected the structure and all the hardware/fasteners have beeninstalled per his drawings. Nevertheless, building inspectors must stillvisually confirm the installation of all straps, anchor bolts,connecting hardware, and nailing schedules, and other fasteners. Forexample, the plywood panels of the structure must be nailed withspecific size nails and nail spacing (refereed to in the buildingschedules). The size/spacing varies with the engineer's requirements.This is critical to the structure and is checked very carefully,consuming many hours of time. Further, when these panels are on thesecond and third floors it is very difficult to see the heads of thesenails, and it is impossible to verify the size/gauge/type, etc.

The inspection process consists of inspecting: the floor sheeting foranchor bolts, nailing of plywood, connection to slab, nailing of floorjoist to wall, all structural hold downs and hardware; the roof sheetingfor spacing of all nails on roof plywood as designed by engineer; thesheering for the action or force causing two contacting parts or layersto slide upon each other, moving apart in opposite directions parallelto the plane of their contact (walls that prevent the structure frommoving laterally), and inspect all uplift and hold downs; and thedrywall and lathing to determine that all nailing occurred per scheduledesigned by engineer. An example of a Building Code setting forth theserequirements is the Uniform Building Code, published by theInternational Conference of Building Officials, ISSN 0896-9728, theentirety of which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully setforth herein. The Uniform Building Code has been widely adopted byregulatory authority for home construction.

The present invention makes the inspection process simpler and quicker,by providing a color coding system, which may be used in conjunctionwith a lettering system, for identifying the physical properties ofconstruction fasteners and any corresponding construction connectorsbefore and after their insertion. Such color coding may be applied toall possible types of fasteners and their corresponding constructionconnectors to designate the specifics of their physical or applicationproperties. These physical properties include, but are not limited to,length, shaft length, leg length, shaft diameter (or gauge), width,crown width, thickness, weight, threads, threads per unit of measure,tip configuration, anchoring capabilities, composition, materials,substance treatment, and variations in surface. Application propertiesmay include the type of fastener or its intended use, as for example awood nail, concrete nail, or roofing nail. These properties may beidentified, where appropriate, for any type of fastener, includingnails, bolts, screws, anchor bolts, nuts, bolts, rivets, staples, wedgeanchor bolt, straps, stir-stirrups, hangers, tie plates, and other typesof fasteners as known to those of skill in the art.

As used herein, the term fastener refers to any of the variety ofdevices which are used to attach one surface to another surface during aconstruction process. Moreover, fasteners as referred to in the presentinvention may be used in the construction of homes, commercialbuildings, airplanes, automobiles, machines, or any other articles ofmanufacture. The present invention is most useful, however, when correctselection of an appropriate fastener prior to application isparticularly important, or when it is important to determine a physicalproperty of a fastener once the fastener has been used in its intendedenvironment, as for example on building inspection. Thus, it ispreferred that fasteners of the present invention possess an exposedportion or exposed surface which may be seen after the fastener has beeninstalled or inserted, and to which the color coding may be applied.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1A is a diagram of conventional wirenails know to those of skill in the art, showing the physical propertiesof length and gauge of the nails. These types of nails are a commonfastener used in the home and commercial construction industry. Thenails are various lengths and gauges, and a builder or architect selectsthe appropriate length and gauge depending on the particular joint,wall, or other surface to be fastened. There are no distinguishingfeatures on any of the fasteners shown to identify their properties, andthis represents the current conditions in which nail fasteners are made.Once the fasteners in FIG. 1A have been applied by being hammered into asurface, the length and gauge of nail fastener can not be identified,because the shaft of the nail will be inserted into a surface, therebyobscuring these properties from view.

Referring to FIG. 1B, there are shown wire nails which feature the colorcoding system of the present invention. Nail 10 is representative of thenails depicted in profile in FIG. 1B, and has a shaft 12, whichterminates in tip 16 and is connected to head 14. Head 14 provides theexposed portion upon which the color coding of the present inventionwill be applied. As shown in FIG. 1B, each of the fourteen nails hasbeen assigned a different preselected color which defines its type(wire), length and gauge. The coloring has been applied to an exposedportion of the fastener, in this case the head of the nails. It shouldbe readily understood by those of skill in the art that the specificcolors set forth in FIG. 1B are merely a representative application ofthe present invention, and that other colors may be substituted orchosen. However, the benefits of the present invention will be greatestif a uniform set of colors is adopted by industry and the same set ofcolors identifying the same physical properties for the fastener ofinterest is used by all.

As can be readily appreciated, the nails depicted in FIG. 1B whichincorporate the present invention can be readily distinguished bothbefore and after they are inserted. For example, a construction workerreading a blueprint specifying that he must use a 9-gauge nail having athree-inch length (a 9d nail) could confirm that the correct nail wasselected and used if the present invention were applied as shown in FIG.1B and a nail having a red coloring on its head was chosen. Morepreferably, accuracy will be increased further when the architecturalblueprints which the construction worker follows incorporate the colorcoding system of the present invention to specify correct fastenerusage. If such were the case, the construction worker could observe thatred-colored nail fasteners (9d nails as in FIG. 1B) need to be used fora certain application by viewing the blueprints, and make the correctchoice by following the color scheme set forth in the blueprints.Similarly, once the nail has been used, and the shaft sunk deeply into awood surface, a building inspector could determine that the nail is a9-gauge three-inch nail by being provided with a color key correlatingnail properties to color as described in FIG. 1B, and observing the redcolor on the head of the nail.

Referring to FIG. 1C, there is shown another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which a letter designation has been used in conjunctionwith the color coding on the nail fasteners. The colors assigned todefine type, length and gauge for the nail fasteners depicted in FIG. 1Care different than those of FIG. 1B, to illustrate the variety ofpre-selected colors that may be used in the present invention. The colorand lettering depicted in FIG. 1C is applied to exposed portion 14,which corresponds to the surface of the nail head. The lettering can beused to further distinguish technically specific variations of the nailfasteners within each color category. For example, “G” indicatinggalvanized (rust resistant), “R” indicating ring shanked (barbed shaft),and so on. Furthermore, other symbols may be used in place of letters toallow for further identification. For example, geometric symbols mightbe used, such as squares, circles, triangles etc. Alternately, numbers,hash markings, or texture (depressions or raised portions) might beused, or any combination of the foregoing.

Although FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show a nail as the specificfastener to which the present invention is applied, it is understoodthat the present invention, as described above, can be used for otherfasteners such as screws, anchor bolts, nuts, bolts, rivets, staples,wedge anchor bolt, straps, stir-stirrups, hangers, tie plates, and othertypes of fasteners as known to those of skill in the art. For theseother types of fasteners, the teachings of the present invention withrespect to nails can be directly incorporated. That is, an exposedportion of one of these fasteners can be color coded to identify one ormore specific properties of the fastener, such as length or diameter.

For example, referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a common staple 20having a crown 22 and legs 24 (i.e. shafts) and points 25 as is used inthe construction field. Staple 20 may have physical properties whichvary, such as crown width, side width, leg length, gauge and thickness,as shown in FIG. 2. The preferred embodiment provides that colors bepreselected to correspond to these and other properties, such as onecolor denoting one leg length and another color denoting a seconddifferent leg length, or different colors denoting differentcombinations of properties, such one color defining a first combinationof length, width, and gauge and a second color defining a secondcombination of length, width and gauge which differs from the first. Forexample, for the different staples depicted in FIG. 2, each staple couldbe assigned a different color to define its combination of properties.The color coding is preferably applied to the crown portion of theappropriate staple, which is a portion of the staple which is exposed toview after the staple is installed. That is, when the legs and pointsare embedded into material, the crown is still visible. By color codingstaples based on their specific properties or type, the properties ofthe staple fastener or type of staple fastener can be identified clearlybefore and after insertion.

The shear panelled walls of a building are one of the most importantcomponents of a structure. This is where sheets of plywood or structuralwafer wood panels are installed vertically on to certain wood framedwalls as shown in FIG. 3. Different thicknesses of plywood, differentspacklings, and different types of nails are used to achieve whatengineers have calculated as required for a safe structure. Oneadvantage of the present invention is that color coding of fastenerswill result in the creation of colored patterns on structure componentssuch as shear walls after the color coded fasteners have been installed.This will make identification of both the fasteners and their correctspacing and usage readily apparent.

For example, as shown below there is an excerpt of a common shear wallschedule following the Uniform Building Code: SHEAR MARK WALL SCHEDULEPER 19 U.B.C. SILL NAILING EXT. ANCHORAGE INT. ANCHORAGE 5 ⅜″ THK. WALLSHEATHING W/ 16d AT 5″ O/C ½″ A.B. AT 32″ O/C ½″ A.B. AT 32″ O/C 8dNAILS AT 6″ O/C AT EDGES 16d AT 2.25″ O/C ½″ A.B. AT 16″ O/C* ½″ A.B. AT16″ O/C*A shear wall schedule indicates the fasteners that should be used forspecific building applications as per the required Uniform BuildingCode. For this example, the number 5 is used, indicating that the shearschedule calls for the builder to use 3/8″ thick wall sheeting with type8d nails, at 6″ on center at the edges. Further, the schedule calls for½″ anchor bolts at 32″ on center, and ½″ anchor bolts at 16″ on center.For visual identification, using the present invention the 8d nails maybe assigned the color code of blue, and the ½ anchor bolts the colorcode of red. Referring now to FIG. 3 which is a diagram of a typicalshear panel wall, the dots 35 designated blue represent the 8d nails, 6″on center, and the dots 38 designated red represent the ½ anchor boltsat 32″ on center and 16″ on center. A pattern results with the red dots38 and blue dots 35 which can be readily identified by constructionworker and building inspector. By viewing this pattern and knowing thecorrelation between the exposed colors of the fasteners and theirphysical properties (from a color key chart), it can be easilydetermined if the correct fasteners have been used to mount the shearwall.

Furthermore, although the fasteners on the drawing have beenillustrated, this representation expresses what pattern would be visibleon the actual building when a color coding system was utilized. It wouldbe clear as to what type of fastener was used and to whether the sametype of fastener was used throughout and in accordance withspecifications. Although the diagram in FIG. 3 is a specificrepresentation of a shear wall application, this invention is applicableto all aspects of construction/building where fastener verification andidentification is vital (for example, floor sheeting, roof sheeting,drywall installation, metal panels, framing, concrete to woodconnections, wood to wood connections, and so on).

As another example of the application of the present invention, FIG. 4shows a drawing of a typical concrete to wood (slab to wall) detailshowing an anchor bolt fastener 40. The anchor bolt fastener has ananchoring portion 42 which is embedded in concrete 45. The head 44 ofthe anchor bolt is exposed after application. Applying the principles ofthe present invention, the length of the anchor bolt anchoring portion42 can be determined, after it is embedded in concrete, using the colorcoding system by assigning different colors to anchor bolts based ontheir properties, and applying the appropriate pre-selected color toexposed head 44 prior to use. For example, the diameter or length of theanchor bolt may be determined by assigning colors to these propertiesseparately, or by assigning colors to the combination of length anddiameter. As shown in FIG. 4, the color red has been pre-selected todefine the combination of ½ inch diameter and 10 inches in length for ananchor bolt, and the red coloring has been applied to exposed portion44. Other properties of the anchor bolt 40 may be similarly determinedby using additional colors or symbols, as described above. Theprinciples of the present invention are particularly beneficial in thiscontext, because an anchor bolt cannot be removed or extracted once ithas been installed. Color coding such fasteners would therefore beinvaluable to installers and inspectors to ensure the correct size boltwas used for the respective application.

FIG. 5A represents a detail section of residential framing 50 in whichtwo beams 52 and 54 meet one another perpendicularly. A beam hanger 56is used as the construction connector in conjunction with fastener nails58 which are inserted through openings in the beam hanger 56 and intobeams 52 and 54. By color coding the beam hanger 56 in the same colorcode as the required nail fastener 58, one can verify, by sight, thatthe correct combination of beam hangers and fasteners was installed.Here, the beam hanger 56 could be colored over the entirety of itsexposed surface, or only along portions of its surface. As describedabove, nail fastener 59 is colored at least upon its exposed portion 59which corresponds to the head of the nail. In FIG. 5A, both are colordesignated dark blue. In other embodiments, it may be desirable that theconstruction connector be colored differently from the fasteners withwhich is must be used, to provide contrasting colors or otheridentifiers which might facilitate inspection. For example, theconnector might be colored blue, to indicate that it must be used withred fasteners. As can be appreciated by those of skill in the art, thereare numerous color combinations that might be used with this aspect ofthe present invention, as any particular color of the visible spectrum(and its neon and fluorescent equivalents) may be combined with othersuch colors.

FIG. 5B represents a detail section of residential framing in whichconstruction connectors (tie plates) connect wood members. FIG. 5B showsseveral common types of tie plate applications, including joists toplate a leg inside, beams to posts A and B legs outside, ceiling joiststo beam, chimney framing, joists to beams, and studs to plate B legoutside. By color coding the tie plates 57 in the same color (orange asshown in FIG. 5B) as the required nail fastener exposed portion 59 onecan verify, by sight, that the correct application has been installed.Alternately, different colors can be used as described previously.

FIG. 5C represents a detail section of residential framing in whichconstruction connectors (metal straps) connect wood members. FIG. 5Cshows a standard strap chart with nail schedule. By color coding theconstruction connector metal strap 51 in the same color (dark green asshown in FIG. 5C) as the required nail fastener exposed portion 59, onecan verify, by sight, that the correct combination as set forth in thenail schedule has been installed.

FIG. 5D represents a detail section of residential framing in which aconstruction connector header hangers 53 connects wood members. FIG. 5Dshows a wall in which there is a window opening requiring thisconstruction connector header hanger 53 application. By color coding theconstruction connector header hanger 53 in the same color code (red asshown in FIG. 5D) as the required fastener exposed portion 59, one canverify, by sight, that the correct combination has been installed. Also,it should be appreciated that although specific colors have beenselected to designate the fasteners and connectors of FIGS. 5A-D, avariety of other colors may be pre-selected and still be used in thepresent invention.

The color imparted to the fasteners of the present invention to codethem for identification may be applied in any manner known to those ofskill in the art. In the preferred embodiment, the coloring will beapplied by coating at least the exposed portion of the fastener with acolored substance, such as paint, resin or colored rubber compounds.Coating may be achieved by means well known to those of skill in theare, such as dip coating or spraying. It is preferred that the coloredcoating used is applied to that a sufficient amount should remain on theexposed portion of the fastener after the fastener has been applied suchthat the color on the exposed portion may be determined by a personviewing it. Preferably, the color of the exposed portion may bedetermined by a person of normal vision (20/20), obtained either with orwithout corrective lenses, at a distance of at least 1 foot away, morepreferably from a distance of at least 5 feet away, and most preferablyfrom a distance of at least 10 feet away, and optimally from a distanceof at least 18 feet away. Moreover, in certain constructionapplications, it is desirable that the color of the exposed portion ofthe fastener be determinable from other distances, such as from at least15 feet away, and sometimes from as far as 20 feet or greater. Forexample, it is not uncommon for vaulted ceilings on a medium-sized hometo be from 20 to 30 feet in height. For these vaulted ceilings, it wouldbe desirable to use fasteners of the present invention in which thecolor of the exposed portion may be determined from a distance of morethan 20 feet, so that a building inspector standing below coulddetermine the color of the exposed portion and thus that the correctfastener has been used.

It is also preferred that the coloring agent used to practice thepresent invention be of the type that is not removed when the fasteneris inserted by a driving member, such as the hammering of a nail. It ismost preferred that enough of the coloring remain after the fastener hasbeen inserted so that the color of the exposed portion of the fastenermay be determined by person of normal vision from at least 5 feet away,preferably 10 feet away, more preferably 15 to 18 feet away, andoptimally from 20 feet away or more, even when used on fasteners havingexposed surfaces as small as an 8 gauge nail head, and preferably assmall as a 12½ gauge nail head. The present inventors have determinedthat colored rubber based compounds, such as Plastic Dip sold by PlasticDip International, Circle Pines, Minn., are suitable coloring agents forthis purpose.

Although the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention has shown, described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention, it will be understood that variousomissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the detail of theapparatus and method as illustrated as well as the uses thereof, may bemade by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention. Consequently, the scope of the present inventionshould not be limited to the foregoing discussions, but should bedefined by the appended claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A fastener and connector system, comprising: aconnector which is required by regulation to be used with fastenershaving specified physical properties; a first colored coating on theconnector, the first coating color having been pre-selected to indicatethe fasteners which regulation permits may be used with the connector; afastener having the specified properties; and a second colored coatingon the fastener, the second coating color having been pre-selected todefine the specified physical properties.
 15. The fastener and connectorsystem of claim 14, wherein the first coating color and the secondcoating color are the same color.
 16. The fastener and connector systemof claim 14, wherein the first